Purpose: The goals of this grant program are in response to the need to prepare students with the knowledge and skills essential for the digital age and for college and career readiness. According to the 2009 New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Technology, Technology is uniquely positioned to transform learning, to foster critical thinking, creativity, and innovation, and to prepare students to thrive in the global economy. As engaged digital learners, students are able to acquire and apply content knowledge and skills through active exploration, interaction, and collaboration with others across the globe. This is accomplished in 21st century learning environments through the systematic and transparent integration of technology across the curriculum and in the teaching and learning process. In this kind of environment, students are engaged in meaningful and relevant authentic tasks using the appropriate technological tools. They routinely access the web to identify, research, and solve real world problems in collaboration with peers and others across state and national borders. Teaching And Learning with Essential New Technologies in the 21 Century (TALENT21) grants will assist schools in establishing 21st century learning environments in grades six and seven that blend physical and digital infrastructures to seamlessly support learning. Students will have Internet access through mobile computing devices to the tools and information that they need to obtain relevant information from networks from around the world while developing the capability to evaluate and use the myriad of information found online. This grant program will provide high speed wireless Internet access to all sixth- and seventh-grade students and their teachers in selected schools through the provision of a one-to-one wireless mobile computing environment. Intensive professional development for teachers and administrators will assist with the effective integration of technology and 21st century skills and themes across content areas as required in the revised 2009 standards, along with the development of a sustainability plan that extends beyond the grant period.

Eligible Agencies: It is open to all New Jersey eligible local entities that meet specific criteria as stated in the NGO in section 1.2